Sectional railway car



2 192 Aug 7 R. l.. PARKER SECTIONAL RAILWAY CAR INVENTGR /omr yf/fk Q. 5 ATTORNEY O O O O f m w, M M w mw. .TW A. N @n d e wmlln Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITEDV STATES ROBERT L. PARKER, 0F GARLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SECTIONAL RAILWAY CAR.

Application led October 30, 1924. Serial No. 746,747.

My invention relates to a railway car of standard width arranged to give increased floor space without involving an increase of distance between the supporting trucks, the car of mv invention being particularly laliapted for use as a dining car or the `yAn object of the invention is to provide a car of the character described in which the sections thereof may be utilized for related purposes, and 4at the same time provide any desired independence in theV use of the sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a car of the character described which, when used as a dining car, provides separate and distinctportions for the dining room, kitchen and crews quarters in the one unit without crowding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dining car of the character described Which provides greatly increased diningl car capacity in one unit.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with y ythe foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form' within the scope of `my inven` tion as set forth in the claims.

lReferring to saiddrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the car of my invention. j

.Figure 2 is a transverse sectional vie showing the plan of the car.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side sectional fragmentary view of the mid-section of the car. v

Figure 4.- is a fragmentary bottom plan View taken on the line 4 4 in Figure 3. Dining cars, as heretofore built, have frequently proved too smallto accommodate the patronage of the train to which they have been attached, with the result that they have frequently been used in pairs, with the corresponding duplication of equipment and staff. Attempts to remedy the condition have sometimes resulted in the use of a second car attached adjacent the diner for use for dining purposes only. But the latter remedy yhas proved unsatisfactory. both from the standpoint of the distances from kitchen to table involved and the fact that the dust in the vestibule between the cars makes the carrying of food therethrough most unsanitary. In accordance with my invention, however, means are provided for supplying the needed space without involving the previously mentioned diiiiculties. As here shown, the dining car of my invention comprises a pair of pivotally connected sections, carried at their associated ends on acommon truck providedintermediate the' ends of the car, and a vestibule connecting said sections in such a manner as to provide a dust proof passage between the sections.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the car of my invention comprises sections 7 and 8 mounted on their opposite ends 9 on trucks 11 of the usual type. The sections 7 and 8 are preferably of equal length and their adjacent ends are carried on a common truck 12. As here shown, pivotal connection between the sections 7 and 8 is provided for by means of eye bars 13 and 14 respectively fixed to the lower portion of ypivotal joint 17. To allow bending of the car at the joint 17, the adjacent ends 18 and 19 of the sections 7 and 8 respectiyelyare spaced apart, and means are rovided for bridging-the gap. thus defined 1n such manner that no interference is offered to the bending of the car which might occur when passing over a curved portion of track. As here shown, the gap between the section ends is arrangedto be closed byineans of a vestibule 21 which is adapted to be carried on and between the sectlon ends and at the same time be held in fixed pivotal relation The vestibule ,21 Ais preferably formed' narrower than the car sections and extends somewhat thereinto. Since it must rotate somewhat in one or both of the end portions into which it extends, side clearance must be provided between it and the side Walls 22 of the car, the space so defined being sealed by means of a flexible bellows (not shown) or a similar device. The passageway 23 through the vestibule may be of any desired width, and, when of standard width, would leave spaces 24 at the sides of the vestibule which would be available for storage purposes. Provision of a window 25 on the side of the vestibule insures proper daylight lighting of the passageway 23. The vestibule is preferably arranged to project under the roof ends of the car sections and is itself provided with a waterproof roof 26.

To maintain the vestibule in proper relation to the truck and sections, it is preferably provided with a pair of removbale pins 28 fixed in the floor 29 thereof adjacent its opposite ends and arranged to register with arcuate slots 31 formed in the underlying portion of floors 32 of the sections, and another pair of removable pins 33 fixed in the ceilings 34 of the section ends and arranged to register with arcuate slots 36 formed in the roof of the vestibule adjacent its ends. In this manner, the vestibule will not only be held from undue vibration, but through having the length of the slots properly limited, it may be maintained in substantially equal angular relation to both sections at all times. Suitable aprons 37 are preferably provided hingedly secured to the ends of the vestibule iioor 32 and forming an inclined approach thereto from the section floors 32. lt will now be particularly noted that longitudinal separation of the sections is here shown arranged to be simply effected by removing the pins 28 and 33 at the end of the vestibule adjacent the section 8 and removing the pivot pin 16, the vestibule remaining attached to and supported by the car section 7.

While it will now ybe noted that a structure has been described :for a sectional car without reference to its particular use or purpose, the device of my invention is particularly shown applied to Aa railroad dining car. As particularly illustrated in :Figure 2, the section 7 includes a pantry 34, kitchen 35, crews ciuarters 36 and a passage 37, the latter being or the use of passengers in passing through this portion of the car. The section 8, it will be noted, is entirely given over to dining tables, and since both sections may, with the present construction be as long as an ordinary car, it will be evident that the available accommodations have been approximately doubled over those provided by the usual two truck dining car. Furthermore, the kitchen has been distinctly separated from the dining room, and the use of the latter for a. sleeping room by the dining car crew has been avoided by the provision of the special crews quarters 35. It will thus be seen that the arrangement ot' my invention is therefore particularly advantageous from the sanitary and hygienic points of view.

I claim l. A railway car comprising pivotally connected separable sections, trucks supporting the extremities of said car, a common truck arranged to support said sections at their point of connection, and a unitary vestibule mounted for pivotal movement about the pivotal axis of said section.

2. A railway car comprising a pair of longitudinally associated car sections, means including cooperating eye bars attached to said sections for pivotally connecting the same, a vestibule section arranged to be carried by and between said sections, a wheel truck, a truck block mounted on said truck, and a pivotpin extending from said block and arranged to hold said sections and vestibule in pivotal relation about a common vertical axis.

3. A railway car comprising separable sections arranged to be pivotally connected at cooperating ends, a unitary vestibule arranged to be fitted within said section ends to provide a passageway between said sections, and means tor holding said vestibule in operative relation to said sections at all times. f

4. A railway car comprising pivotally connected car sections,`a unitary vestibulemember carried by and between said sections and rotatable about the pivotal axis thereof, and cooperating means arranged on said vestibule and sections. for maintaining said vestibule in substantially equal angular relation to both of said sections. l

5. A railway car ,'comprising separable sect-ions, a vestibule section arranged to be carried by and between said sections, a wheel truck, a truck block mounted on said truck, and a pivot pin extending from said block and arranged to hold said sections and vestibule in pivotal relation abouta common vertical axis.

6. A railway :canY comprising separable sections arranged to be pivotally connected at cooperating ends, a unitary vestibule arranged to be carried by and between said section ends, and a common means for holding said vestibule and sections in pivotal relation about a common vertical axis.

7. A railway car comprising separable sections arranged to be pivotally connected directly to each other at cooperating ends and a unitary vestibule arranged to be removably iitted within said section ends to provide a passageway between said sections.

8. A railway oar comprising separable sections arranged to be pivotally connected at cooperating ends and a unitary vestibule of uniform cross section laterallyof the car arranged to be telescopically engaged Within said section ends to provide a passage-Way between said sections.

rectly to each other at cooperating ends and t y X a unitary vestibule arranged to be removably and telescopcally'engaged Within said seotion ends. 10

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland, California, this 21st day of Oct-ober, 1924.

f ROBERT L. PARKER.v 

